Twenty-seventh Session, Paris 1993
Item 6.4 of the provisional agenda
IMPLEMENTATION OF 26 C/RESOLUTION 16 CONCERNING
EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS
IN THE OCCUPIED ARAB TERRITORIES:
REPORT BY THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL
1. The General Conference at its twenty-sixth session, having examined document 26 C/17 and its addendum, adopted 26 C/Resolution 16 in which inter alia it decided to include this item on the agenda of its twenty-seventh session.
2. In compliance with the above resolution, the Director-General submitted to the Executive Board, for consideration at its 139th session under item 4.3.1 of its agenda, a report (139 EX/67 and Addendum)1 on the measures he had taken to give effect to 26 C/Resolution 16 and to decision 5.2.1 adopted by the Executive Board at its 137th session. After considering this report, the Executive Board adopted 139 EX/Decision 4.3.1, in which it decided inter alia to include this question on the agenda of its 141st session. The text of the decision appears as Annex I.
3. At the 141st session of the Executive Board, the Director-General submitted, for the consideration of the Board under item 5.2.1 of its agenda, 141 EX/8 and Addendum. In that document, the Director-General reported on the situation of educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories and on the measures he had taken to give effect to the above resolution and decision. After considering the report, the Executive Board adopted 141 EX./Decision 5.2.1, in which it decided inter alia to include this question on the agenda of its 142nd session. The text of the decision appears as Annex II.
4. At the 142nd session of the Executive Board, the Director-General will submit document 142 EX/l 1 and its addendum for the consideration of the Board, under item 5.3.1 of its provisional agenda. Information about the examination of that document at the 142nd session and the decision taken by the Board in that regard will be contained in an addendum to the present document.
4.3.1 Application of 26 C/Resolution 16 concerning educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories (139 EX/6 and Add. and 139 EX/36)
1. Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education (1960) and the fourth Geneva Convention (1949),
2. Having considered the Director-General’s report (139 EX/6 and Add.) and taking account of the presentation made by the Assistant Director-General for Education,
3. Reaffirms the previous decisions and resolutions of UNESCO concerning educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories;
4. Expresses its satisfaction at UNESCO’s support for the PEACE programme (Palestinian-European Academic Co-operation in Education) whose goals are referred to in document 139 EX/6;
5. Thanks the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its generous gift to the scholarship fund;
6. Reiterates its appeal to the international community to contribute financially to the fund;
7. Takes note with satisfaction of the reopening of the schools and institutions of higher education in the occupied Palestinian territories;
8. Expresses its satisfaction at the resumption of the activities of the universities in the occupied Palestinian territories and its hope that, in addition to the two faculties already open, all the faculties on the campus of the University of Bir Zeit will be able to open with effect from the next semester and overcome the obstacles impeding the freedom of choice of students from the Gaza Strip, who are denied the possibility of continuing their studies in the universities on the West Bank;
9. Expresses its deep concern at the difficult situation of the educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, especially as regards the change in curricula, and invites the Director-General to provide the necessary assistance to educational establishments in UNESCO’s fields of competence in order to preserve Syrian cultural identity and the award of scholarships to students from the Golan Heights;
10. Regrets that Father Boné was not able to complete his mission in the occupied Arab territories and urges that he be allowed to do so as soon as possible;
11. Warmly thanks the Director-General for all the efforts he is making on behalf of education in the occupied Arab territories;
12. Invites the Director-General:
(a) to continue his efforts to secure implementation of UNESCO’s decisions and resolutions concerning educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories;
(b) to launch an appeal to the international community, at governmental and non-governmental level, and to the international organizations concerned, for voluntary contributions in order to make good the deficit in the operating budget of the Palestinian universities caused by the protracted closure of those institutions and the current situation;
13. Decides to place this question on the agenda of its 141st session.
1This document has already been distributed to Member States. It can be consulted on request at the
Secretariat of the Executive Board during the General Conference.
5.2.1 Application of 26 C/Resolution 16 concerning educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories (141 EX/8 & Add. and 141 EX/42)
The Executive Board,
1. Recalling the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the UNESCO Convention against Discrimination in Education (1960) and the Fourth Geneva Convention (1949),
2. Having examined the report by the Director-General (141 EX/8 & Add.) and taking account of the introduction by the Assistant Director-General for Education,
3. Reaffirms the previous decisions and resolutions of UNESCO concerning educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Arab territories;
4. Expresses its satisfaction at the resumption of peace negotiations in the Middle East, in the hope that a just, global and lasting peace may be achieved as swiftly as possible on the basis of a just solution to the problems of the region;
5. Expresses its deep concern over the situation in educational and cultural institutions in the occupied Syrian Golan, which is aggravated by:
(a) Israel’s alteration of school curricula, impediments and obstacles to students’ freedom of choice, and inadequate training of staff,
(b) quotas and practices imposed by Israel that restrict students’ access to Syrian universities and to various courses of study in the Golan;
6. Strongly deplores the loss of many days of schooling in the occupied Arab territories owing to the closure of schools and universities by military order or by curfews, etc.;
7. Deplores the fact that the personal representative of the Director-General has been unable to accomplish his mission in the occupied Arab territories, and urges that he be allowed to do so as soon as possible;
8. Warmly thanks the Director-General for his efforts to secure implementation of its decisions;
9. Invites the Director-General:
(a) to provide, in UNESCO’s fields of competence, the necessary assistance to educational establishments to preserve Syrian cultural identity and for the granting of scholarships to Golan students;
(b) to continue his efforts with a view to the unhindered functioning of schools, universities and cultural institutions throughout the territories;
(c) to conduct a study to assess academic standards in Palestinian universities in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip;
(d) to continue his efforts to provide, in UNESCO’s fields of competence, the necessary assistance to schools in order to preserve the cultural identity of the populations concerned;
10. Decides to place this item on the agenda for its 142nd session.
